Alcohol can have a variety of effects on a driver. It can affect the driver’s hand-eye-foot coordination, reaction time, and comprehension skills, which are all important aspects in the act of driving. If a driver’s physical and mental capabilities are compromised, he or she is not the only one in danger of traffic accidents and injuries, but also the other unsuspecting motorists around.

For this reason, driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal. Getting arrested for driving drunk has consequences, such as fines that can reach thousands of dollars, suspension of license, and even jail time. Still, many people drive while intoxicated, as if they do not fear the consequences.

DUI Laws
One way to prevent drunk driving is by having laws against it and ensuring their proper implementation. There are legal blood alcohol content levels that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Typically, the threshold is at 0.08%. Those who have a BAC at 0.08% or higher may be arrested for drunk driving.

Sobriety Checkpoints
Sobriety checkpoints are strategic locations where law officers stop vehicles and check whether their drivers are impaired in any way. By having sobriety checkpoints, there is more reason for drivers to avoid drunk driving, because arrest becomes a more and more viable consequence.

Fines and Penalties
Fines and penalties vary, depending on the jurisdiction. Most of the time, the severity of fines and penalties depends on how many times the driver has committed the offense and how bad the offense is, taking into consideration the BAC level, injury, property damage, and other important factors.

Fines can reach hundreds or thousands of dollars. Penalties may include license suspension or revocation reaching up to 10 years. There are instances where the revocation is even permanent. Jail time is also not out of the question.

Ignition Interlocks
Ignition interlocks are devices that are put into the offender’s car to measure his or her blood alcohol content through breath. If the BAC reaches a certain threshold, the vehicle won’t start. Usually, the threshold is at 0.02%.

The hassles of ignition interlocks can prevent repeated offenses, and the idea that ignition interlocks exist is also a good way to deter drivers from driving while intoxicated.